Chapter Forty-Six: I Really Was Just Escorting Her Home!

“A prank? Miss Sonoko? This…” Kanzaki glanced at Sonoko, then cast a doubtful look at his new partner.

Kanzaki had reported to Mihana Police Station early that morning and was assigned to partner with Kuroki—the detectives always worked in pairs for safety and to avoid conflicts of interest.

However, the veteran Kuroki proved unreliable by arriving late and not answering his phone. Kanzaki’s first task on the job was to find his missing partner.

When he finally found Kuroki, the latter was injured and unconscious, claiming, “Sonoko Suzuki has been kidnapped!”

Disguised, the two went to Sonoko Suzuki’s residence.

Kuroki was stunned upon seeing Sonoko, then quickly took out a student ID from Teitan High School and asked, “Miss Sonoko, this student ID…”

“Hm?” Sonoko took it and looked it over, equally puzzled. “I did lose a student ID before, but this photo…”

The photo on the ID was clearly someone else!

Kuroki’s face darkened further.

“What’s going on?” Chief Shiraishi asked gravely.

“Chief, the situation is bad… Someone was indeed kidnapped right before my eyes… but it seems the kidnappers mistook the identity of their victim!” Kuroki said helplessly.

Shiraishi noticed Kuroki had some fresh wounds, suggesting he had recently fought someone.

So…

Someone had forged Sonoko’s student ID to fake their identity and was mistakenly kidnapped in her place!

Ring—ring—

The phone that came with the ransom note began to ring.

As the four people in the Suzuki household exchanged glances, Shiraishi signaled Ayako, “Answer. If it’s the kidnappers, don’t reveal our presence or that they took the wrong person.”

Tomoko Suzuki, watching her daughter being ordered around, crossed her arms and tapped her elbow with a finger in obvious displeasure. But given the urgency, she held back her frustration.

Kuroki quickly connected a listening device to the phone.

“Hello, this is the Suzuki household…”

“Heh heh, you must have received the message that Miss Sonoko is safe already. May I ask who’s speaking?” came a voice, obviously disguised.

Ayako looked to Kuroki nervously, who encouraged her with a glance. She forced calm and said, “I’m Sonoko’s sister. How… is my sister?”

Muffled sounds as if a mouth was being covered and faint cries for help came through.

“You won’t hurt my sister! What do you want?” Ayako played along.

“Prepare three hundred million yen in cash. I’ll contact you again in half an hour. If you involve the police… Heh heh, you know what will happen to your sister.”

After this, muffled cries came again before the line went dead.

“Send the recording to the tech team for voiceprint analysis… Ayako, three hundred million yen?” Shiraishi asked awkwardly.

After all, the kidnapped person wasn’t actually a Suzuki family member.

For the hostage’s safety, it was best if the Suzukis advanced the ransom—Japanese law strictly prohibits police from paying ransom under any pretext.

Without this law, on-site officers would face unbearable moral pressure if victims asked for money.

“I’ll raise the money immediately!” Ayako said without hesitation.

“Officer Shiraishi…” Tomoko haughtily spoke—was this how one begged for help?

But seeing her daughter’s pleading look and her husband’s “say less” expression, Tomoko sighed and said, “Do you think the Suzuki family is just anyone? Three hundred million is nothing…” She then called the bank.

Soon, the cash was personally delivered.

During this, Shiraishi questioned Kuroki about the kidnapping. Since the bungling kidnappers had taken the wrong person, the Suzuki family was clueless.

Kuroki was a solid mid-level detective in the Criminal Investigation Division.

Kuroki Kenji (Mihana Police Detective):

Age: 30

Overall Rating: R

Mind: Justice (68), Principles (43), Gentleness (40), Subjectivity (68), Passion (61), Tenacity (67)

Body: Healthy, minor injuries

Skills: Reasoning (R), Interrogation (R), Driving (R)

Potential: Moderate, frontline detective tendency

Meanwhile, Shiraishi was fairly satisfied with the rookie Kanzaki. Though he seemed inexperienced and somewhat polished in appearance, his abilities were good, especially his potential.

Kanzaki Ryuichi (Mihana Police Detective):

Age: 23

Overall Rating: R

Mind: Justice (72), Principles (82), Gentleness (70), Subjectivity (61), Passion (62), Tenacity (51)

Body: Excellent hearing, healthy, mild myopia

Skills: Evidence collection (R), Interrogation (R), Combat (N), Restraint (N)

Potential: Tremendous, forensic specialization

Kanzaki was a newcomer but solid in all respects. Naturally, his principles were high, and his personality was warm.

His potential specialization seemed unnoticed even by himself; Shiraishi planned to transfer him to forensics eventually.

But of course, not yet.

“What’s the situation on your end? This girl was kidnapped right before your eyes? Do you know her?” Shiraishi asked Kuroki.

Kuroki looked a bit flustered.

“To be honest… I didn’t know her identity before. I mean… I didn’t even know she was a high school student,” Kuroki began to excuse himself.

“Get to the point!” Shiraishi snapped.

“Cough cough, I met her at a bar. She was drunk, and I didn’t feel safe leaving her alone, so I tried to escort her home. Just after leaving the bar, as we passed a small alley, we were attacked. It was too dark to see their faces, but there were at least three assailants. I subdued two, but then I got hit from behind and passed out until this morning. I found this student ID at the scene,” Kuroki said awkwardly.

Seeing Shiraishi silent, Kuroki emphasized, “I really was just trying to escort her home!”

Kanzaki looked on with disdain.

“I just thought she was young and might encounter trouble, so…” Kuroki wanted to explain more.

“Did they say anything? Were they prepared?” Shiraishi interrupted.

“Yes, they didn’t say a word and went straight for the girl,” Kuroki said, then added, “But they hadn’t expected I was a police officer. When I showed my badge, they panicked… but still attacked.”

Shiraishi frowned thoughtfully but then said, “The wardrobe installation should be finished. You can leave. Go to that bar and investigate this girl’s background. Confirm her true identity!”

“What about the kidnapping case…” Kuroki felt the immediate concern was the kidnapping, not the girl’s identity.

“I’ll personally take charge of that,” Shiraishi said firmly.

“Yes!” Kuroki finally felt assured.

“Oh, Kuroki.” Shiraishi suddenly called him back. When Kuroki stopped, Shiraishi muttered, “You just finished your suspension today, right? During your suspension, you went to a bar to escort a girl home… You’ll write a report and reflection on this!”

“Yes, sir…”

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